Extendable articulating ladder

Abstract

A scaffolding or extendable ladder mechanism is attachable to a rack elevated from a base level. The scaffolding includes a housing fixedly attached to the rack, and a rail mechanism slidably attached to the housing. The rail mechanism is movable between a stowed position and a deployed position. A ladder is movably attached to the rail mechanism, and is slidable and rotatable relative to the rail mechanism. The ladder is movable between a retracted position, substantially within the rail mechanism, and an extended position, substantially outside of the rail mechanism. The extended position of the ladder is also rotated relative to the rail mechanism, and the ladder is nearer the base level in the extended position than in the retracted position.

1 . A scaffolding attachable to a rack elevated from a base level, comprising:
 a housing fixedly attached to the rack;   a rail mechanism slidably attached to the housing, wherein the rail mechanism is movable between a stowed position and a deployed position; and   a ladder movably attached to the rail mechanism, wherein the ladder is slidable and rotatable relative to the rail mechanism between:
 a retracted position, substantially within the rail mechanism; and 
 an extended position substantially outside of the rail mechanism and rotated relative to the rail mechanism, wherein the ladder is nearer the base level in the extended position than in the retracted position. 
   
     
     
         2 . The scaffolding of  claim 1 , wherein the ladder includes:
 an upper ladder slidably and rotatably attached to the rail mechanism; and   a lower ladder slidably attached to the upper ladder, wherein the lower ladder is distal to the rail mechanism and is configured to contact the base level when the ladder is in the extended position.   
     
     
         3 . The scaffolding of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a first lock selectively preventing movement of the rail mechanism from the stowed position to the deployed position and from the deployed position to the stowed position.   
     
     
         4 . The scaffolding of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a second lock selectively preventing movement of the upper ladder from the extended position to the retracted position.   
     
     
         5 . The scaffolding of  claim 4 ,
 wherein the upper ladder rotates about the rail mechanism at a pivot point, and   wherein the pivot point is distal to the housing when the rail mechanism is in the deployed position.   
     
     
         6 . The scaffolding of  claim 5 ,
 wherein the extended position of the ladder does not occupy any of a same space as the retracted position of the ladder.   
     
     
         7 . The scaffolding of  claim 6 ,
 wherein the extended position of the ladder is a first extended position, such that the upper ladder and the lower ladder are distal to a first side of the housing and the rack, and   wherein the ladder is configured to move to a second extended position, such that the upper ladder and the lower ladder are distal to a second side of the housing and the rack, opposite the first side.   
     
     
         8 . The scaffolding of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first lock selectively preventing movement of the rail mechanism from the stowed position to the deployed position and from the deployed position to the stowed position.   
     
     
         9 . The scaffolding of  claim 8 ,
 wherein the ladder rotates about the rail mechanism at a pivot point, and   wherein the pivot point is distal to the housing when the rail mechanism is in the deployed position.   
     
     
         10 . A vehicle configured to sit on a base level, comprising:
 a rack attached to the vehicle opposite the base level;   a housing fixedly attached to the rack;   a rail mechanism slidably attached to the housing, and having a pivot point defined on one end thereof, wherein the rail mechanism is slidable, relative to the housing, between:
 a stowed position, substantially within the housing; and 
 a deployed position, in which the pivot point is distal to the housing; and 
   a ladder mechanism movably attached to the rail mechanism, wherein the ladder mechanism is slidable and rotatable relative to the rail mechanism between:
 a retracted position, substantially within the rail mechanism; and 
 an extended position substantially outside of the rail mechanism and rotated relative to the rail mechanism, wherein the ladder mechanism is nearer the base level in the extended position than in the retracted position. 
   
     
     
         11 . The vehicle of  claim 10 ,
 wherein the ladder mechanism rotates about the rail mechanism at the pivot point,   wherein the pivot point is distal to the housing when the rail mechanism is in the deployed position, and   wherein the extended position of the ladder mechanism does not occupy any of a same space as the retracted position of the ladder mechanism.   
     
     
         12 . The vehicle of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a first lock selectively preventing movement of the rail mechanism from the stowed position to the deployed position and from the deployed position to the stowed position; and   a second lock selectively preventing movement of the ladder mechanism from the extended position to the retracted position.   
     
     
         13 . The vehicle of  claim 12 , wherein the ladder mechanism includes:
 an upper ladder slidably attached to the rail mechanism and rotatable about the pivot point; and   a lower ladder slidably attached to the upper ladder, wherein the lower ladder is distal to the rail mechanism and configured to contact the base level when the ladder is in the extended position.   
     
     
         14 . The vehicle of  claim 13 ,
 wherein the extended position of the ladder mechanism is a first extended position, such that the upper ladder and the lower ladder are distal to a first side of the vehicle, and   wherein the ladder mechanism is configured to move to a second extended position, such that the upper ladder and the lower ladder are distal to a second side of the vehicle, opposite the first side.